Skip to content

Brownstown-Sefton News

Winterizing the Chicken Roost
With the temperatures taking a dip well below freezing, snowflakes drifting down and around, and the strong, cold, winds penetrating the surrounding timber, it was time to turn the heat on (not the oven or roaster), for the girls, Blackie and Rhonda (hens).
Papa Bear Bill bought them a brand new heat bulb and the roost is now much warmer.  
The other outdoors critters seem to be making it OK, with new, fresh bedding put down in their barn.
The indoor critters, namely Josie, the 12-year-old “puppy,” and Callie, the kitty, don’t even like to make the necessary trips out in the cold and they get back to the door as soon as possible.
 As “Callie” was an abandoned mother-in-waiting during a heavy snow and lived in our woods for weeks until she finally accepted our food and hospitality, she prefers to stay in our warm, dry, house, furnished with a food bowl, fresh water and her choice of napping places.
Josie, contrary to her attitude as a puppy, is showing some physical indications of her actual age, and spends most of her time cuddled under her Tinker Bell plush blanket, while Callie, who has a much thicker coat, cuddles up as close as she can get to Josie.
There is another pink flowery flannel blanket for Callie, but she seems to prefer sharing Josie’s blanket, much to Josie’s aggravation.  
We like living in Illinois, but when the chicken and cow water freezes over, it’s a mite too cold for comfort.
Free Soup Mug & Chef Cat Cora recipe card at Golden Years Building blood drive …
… next Monday at the Golden Years Building (120 S. First St., Brownstown), from 2-6 p.m., sponsored by the Sefton HCE Unit.
The Red Cross needs donors now more than ever. The winter months are a difficult time for blood collection. That’s why the American Red Cross and Chef Cat Cora have teamed up to offer all blood donors a free soup mug and special Chef Cat Cora recipe card (while supplies last).
Use sponsor code Golden Years Building to schedule an appointment.
All donors must present a photo ID.
Relay for Life Kickoff Rally …
… is Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Joe’s Pizza and Pasta Place at 1227 N. Fourth St. in Vandalia. All team captains and team members are encouraged to attend.
They will be organizing and planning for the June Walk. Those who were team captains last year are asked to let their team members know about this rally.
For more information, contact Dave Rickman at 283-7066.
Reminders
• Golden Years Club Ham and Beans potluck dinner and meeting is Tuesday at noon.
• Sefton Unit HCE meeting is Thursday, Jan. 12, at 1 p.m.
Food Pantry Items for January
One can of chicken or one can chicken and dumplings, one box stuffing mix. All donations appreciated.
Local Celebrations
Birthdays-Lucille Bingaman, Marge Weiss, Zandra Sidwell, Adeline Dauphin, Earl O’Kuly, Charles Reece, Jarin Evans, Rita Grull, Marge Harre, Kolter Fulk, Glenn Gurtner, Argyle Orr, Marilyn Yakel, Connie Green, Margaret Durbin and Geraldine Goldsboro. Anniversary-David and Geraldine.
Coming & Going
Catching Up with the Puleos & Debbie
Ken and Wanda Puleo and Debbie McDonald enjoyed a long holiday week, receiving late Christmas cards, phone calls and visits.
Great-granddaughter Audrey Rose McDonald came to visit accompanied by her parents, Sean and Rosie McDonald of Ramsey.
Audrey is a very happy, pleasant 5-month-old.
The Puleos and Debbie visited with daughter, Kathy and Matt McConkey, mid-week.
The new year made a good start as son, Mike, of Ramsey, and son, Bill, of Brownstown came by for a visit.
Catching up with Shirley
Shirley Klitzing joined her son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Carol Klitzing of Vandalia, to travel to Pontiac Tuesday to visit her grandchildren, Katie, Justin and Allie, and her new, great-grandbaby, who was born Dec. 7, 2011, Karragan Elizabeth. Shirley reported Karragan has enough black hair for an adult. Shirley, Chris and Carol stayed overnight and returned home Thursday.
Christmas afternoon, Shirley, Chris and Carol enjoyed eating out and seeing a movie afterward.
New Year’s Day, Shirley visited in Altamont with Helen Klitzing and Lucille Fisher, and stayed overnight. Maria Klitzing and children, Kathy and Andy Klitzing, also visited.
Brazles Join Christmas Get-Together
The Vernon and Judy Brazle family converged on Lake of the Ozarks on Monday, Dec. 26, to celebrate Christmas together. Thanks to daughter, Elaine, and son-in-law, Steve Bein, they were treated to the use of three condominiums for three nights and four days.
In addition to 5½-year-old Daniel, the Beins were joined in their unit by their daughter, Stasi and son-in-law Johnson Flanagan from Danville; and son, Joseph and fiancée Megan Hanley of Decatur.
Vernon and Judy shared a unit with son, Virgil, and his wife, Barb, and their son, Josiah, from Florissant, Mo., and Virgil’s son Gabe and wife, Sarah, of Moberly, Mo.
A third unit was occupied by son, Vernon, his wife, Janet, and their children, Maddie, Claire and Wesley, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The highlight of their time together was the annual all-day gift-a-palooza gift exchange. When 19 adults and children are giving and receiving one gift at a time, it takes about 6 hours for all the gifts to be opened.
They did take a break for lunch.
Each family group was in charge of a lunch or dinner for the group, and enjoyed a wide variety of foods from tacos to chilies and other soups to a new, delicious, recipe for Indiana baked chicken. Cookies, Chex mixes, fudge, cheesecakes and traditional cranberry and five-cups salads were enjoyed throughout the week.
Plans are in the works for a return engagement in 2012, when they hope the rest of the family can join them.
Brownstown United Methodist Church
The congregation of the Brownstown United Methodist Church gathered for Sunday morning worship following Sunday school. Pianist Bette Stolte wished all a happy and blessed New Year and suggested that they made the hymn, “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” their prayer. She played the song as the prelude as the altar candles were lighted. Carol Severns served as liturgist.
Pastor Don Thomas greeted all present including guests, the Rev. Dean and Shirley Brown of Clay Center. He reviewed announcements, birthdays and prayer requests, with several added to the prayer concerns and needs. The pastor led the opening prayer.
Hubert and Betty Williams presented the tithes and offerings. Marlys Thomas sang a solo and read scripture.
Thomas delivered the message and served Communion, assisted by his wife, Marlys, and led the closing prayer.
Announcements
• Jan. 19, 2-6 p.m.-The Brownstown United Methodist Women will meet at the church. Call to prayer and self-denial will be observed, and a special offering will be taken. Carol Henna will give the program, and Connie Green will serve as hostess.
• Jan. 25, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.-The book study on Haiti will be given by Marlene Cummins of Troy, sponsored by the Mulberry Grove/Pleasant Mound UMW. Brownstown is invited to the study.
Liberty Christian Church
The congregation of the Liberty Christian Church was greeted by Tom and Teresa Mayes, and answered the call of worship, with everyone singing songs of praise. Jim Dann shared the praises and prayer requests, and led in prayer. Jim Dann delivered the New Year’s Day message, with scripture from Proverbs 11:24-25
Also serving: serving at the table-Kyle Anderson, Vernon Brazle; serving the congregation-Aaron Miller, Charlie Moore, Josh Robison, Brad Smith, Brian Smith, Frank Stringfield; assistants: Clay Chandler; ushers-Mark Schaub, Gary Smith; sound system-Dan Largent; PowerPoint-Dana; Communion prep-Linda Doehring; Communion
rounds-Vernon Brazle, Frank Stringfield; welcome center-Ruth Ann Stewart; and pre-K worship-Connie Largent, Emment Chandler.
Announcements
• Jan. 8-Deadline for nominations for elders, deacons and trustees.
• Jan. 8-“Not A Fan,” the theme of a new sermon series by Jim Dann. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board for the journals.
• Jan. 8-Feast of Israel study begins during Sunday school time in the Bereans classroom. Judy Brazle will lead the class.
• Jan. 15-Wild game supper and the Courageous movie at First Christian Church in Brownstown. Supper is at 4:30 p.m. and movie at 6 p.m.

Leave a Comment